Brindisi native Flavia Pennetta and Errani defeated Williams and Alison Riske 6-0, 6-3.

"It was tough," U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. "They don't miss, they defend really well, and they make moves. And they play a lot more. Serena hasn't played a doubles match in a long time."

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It was Williams' first career loss in the Fed Cup, dropping to 16-1 '€” 13-0 in singles and 3-1 in doubles.

Earlier, Williams put together an error-filled 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Errani before Pennetta routed 65th-ranked Christina McHale 6-1, 6-1.

Williams also won her opening singles match Saturday but the U.S. sorely missed her sister Venus Williams, who withdraw from the team due to a personal matter. Also missing was rising star Madison Keys.

"Everybody that could be here was here," Fernandez said.

Italy returns to the World Group and can compete for the Fed Cup trophy next year while the U.S. is relegated to World Group II.

Errani and Pennetta celebrated by throwing water at each other and captain Corrado Barazzutti, and dancing on the red clay court.

Italy has now beaten the U.S. five consecutive times, including back-to-back finals in 2009 and 2010.

"When we won those two finals everyone said, 'Well, the Williams didn't come,'" Barazzutti said. "So having Serena here makes this a little bit sweeter. We showed we're one of the best teams in the world no matter who we play against."

Errani recently split with her usual doubles partner Roberta Vinci but she also has experience playing with Pennetta and both Errani and Pennetta have been ranked No. 1 in doubles.

Williams has won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles but she had never played with Riske, who is ranked 45th in singles and had never even met Williams until this week.

The Americans struggled from the start and their troubles were highlighted late in the first set when Williams called for the ball at the net but then stumbled and Errani blasted a forehand passing shot right by her.

"They were the better team today," Williams said. "And ultimately they got the win, which they deserved because they played better."

In her singles match, Williams held a massive 70-7 lead in winners but she committed nearly three times as many unforced errors as the 15th-ranked Errani.

Until the very end, Williams struggled to dictate play against someone who had never before presented her with serious problems.

"I don't think I ever really got the hang of it," Williams said. "I really struggled today in the wind, on both sides. I don't know what side was worse for me. Usually I'm able to adjust and it's a little disappointing that I wasn't able to adjust sooner.

"Today has been a big eye opener," Williams added. "I need to go home and really train. I'm totally not as ready for clay-court season as I thought I was. ... Next time I'll be really, really ready and I'll know what to expect. Now I'm in the mindset of, 'You know what, I'm not on hard court.' I'm playing like I'm on hard court and I'm not. So I have to play and be ready to hit a thousand shots if necessary."

Still, Williams improved to 20-0 this year in singles.

Williams usually dominates Errani by taking advantage of the Italian's weak serve but the wind prevented her from stepping too far into the court.

The Circolo Tennis Brindisi is located next to the southern city's port and a sharp breeze was blowing off the bay.

Williams and Errani often had to catch their tosses and start their service motions over again, or delay play when the wind whipped clay into their eyes between points.

"The wind helped me," Errani said. "Against a player like her it favored me."

With the soldout crowd of 4,000 chanting her first name, Errani served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but Williams played solidly.

"It's a shame. I was so close. It was just a matter of a few points," Errani said. "But in the end, she created the difference."

___

Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf (**)

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